FormyDance formations for 18 dancers
Here are 7 formations that work well for a team of 18, from everyday windows to big moments like the wedge. Every diagram opens in Formy, so you can drag dancers around, add names and share it with your team.
How to read the diagrams: the audience is at the top (FRONT), as on the Formy board. That means stage left is on the left of each diagram.
1. Windows (staggered rows)
Two rows of 9, with the back row shifted half a spot so each back-row dancer is seen between the dancers in front. The audience can see all 18 faces, and most routines keep coming back to this one.
Open this formation in Formy →2. Wedge (pyramid)
Rows of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 from front to back, with one dancer at the point, downstage center. It pushes the energy toward the audience. Save it for a big chorus hit or to feature a dancer.
Open this formation in Formy →3. Circle
18 dancers evenly spaced on a ring. Face in for a group moment, face out to play to the whole house, or use it as a transition between bigger shapes.
Open this formation in Formy →4. Soloist with backup
One dancer downstage center with the other 17 behind in rows of 9 and 8. Use it for a feature, a lyric line or a short solo, then fold the soloist back in.
Open this formation in Formy →5. Two groups
The team splits into two groups: 9 on stage left and 9 on stage right. Good for call and response, a battle section or two different pieces of choreography at once.
Open this formation in Formy →6. Three staggered rows
Three staggered rows of 6. Windows for a bigger team: each row stands in the gaps of the row in front, so faces stay visible from the house.
Open this formation in Formy →7. Inverted wedge
The widest row at the front, narrowing to one dancer upstage center (rows of 6, 5, 4, 2 and 1). It frames the dancer at the back and works well for a reveal.
Open this formation in Formy →Tips for staging 18 dancers
Center. With 18 dancers you have an even number, so nobody stands exactly center; two dancers share the center line. When you want one person in the middle, pull a dancer out front (soloist with backup) or use a wedge.
Rows. With 18 dancers, three staggered rows (6, 6 and 6) usually fit the stage better than two long rows. Two rows of windows (9 and 9) work on a wide stage. Rotate the rows between sections so the same dancers are not always at the back.
Stage size. Allow about 1.2 m (4 ft) per dancer across a row so arms and turns have room, and about 1.5–2 m (5–6 ft) between rows. A row of 6 needs about 7 m (23 ft) of stage width, and 3 rows need about 4.5 m (15 ft) or more of depth. Shapes with more rows, like the wedge, need extra depth.
Order. A simple order that flows well: Windows → Wedge → Two groups → Circle → Soloist with backup → Windows. Moving between neighboring shapes keeps transitions short, so dancers are not crossing the whole stage in one 8-count.
Large casts. You can open these 18-dancer formations and save them to your projects for free. The Free plan lets you add up to 10 people to a board, so adding more dancers or building your own large boards from scratch needs Formy Pro.
Questions
What is the best formation for 18 dancers?
There is no single best one, but three staggered rows (6, 6 and 6) keep all 18 dancers visible and work for most of a routine. Save the wedge for big moments, and use the circle or the two groups for openings, endings and transitions.
Who should stand in the center with 18 dancers?
With an even number like 18, two dancers share the center. If you need a single center, put one dancer downstage in front of the group, or use a wedge with one dancer at the point.
How much stage space do 18 dancers need?
Allow about 1.2 m (4 ft) per dancer across a row so arms and turns have room, and about 1.5–2 m (5–6 ft) between rows. A row of 6 needs about 7 m (23 ft) of stage width, and 3 rows need about 4.5 m (15 ft) or more of depth. Shapes with more rows, like the wedge, need extra depth.
Can I edit these formations and send them to my dancers?
Yes. Every diagram on this page opens in Formy, a free formation app that runs in the browser. Drag dancers, add names and colors, then share a view-only link. Dancers open it on their phone with no download or account. Adding more than 10 people to a board needs Formy Pro.
Formations for other team sizes
Plan your routine in Formy
Put one formation in each scene, set the counts, and play the transitions back against your YouTube video. Then send your dancers a link they can open without an account.